Secular Buddhism

The backwards law proposes that the more we chase after something, the more difficult it becomes to catch it and the more disappointed we feel. In other words, the harder we try, the less likely we are to succeed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a culture that tends to feel gratitude for only the pleasant things in our life, the Buddhist approach is to feel gratitude for all things, even the unpleasant ones. Gratitude develops patience and patience is an antidote to the poison of greed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The nature of reality is that things come together and things fall apart and then things come together and things fall apart and that cycle goes on and on. Instead of running from the difficulties and the pain, the Buddhist approach is to move toward the painful situations and become intimate with them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mara is "the personification of the forces antagonistic to enlightenment." Mara wants to be feared. We tend to run from the things that we fear, but what happens when we stop running and we look at Mara and say "I see you, Mara!"In this episode, I will share my thoughts about the interaction between the Buddha and Mara. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The podcast discusses the concept of Dependent Origination in Buddhism and its application to daily life, including examples like a car and mindful eating. It explores how fear arises from various causes and conditions, and the impact of beliefs on emotions. The episode also emphasizes the practical application of Dependent Origination, using a bowl of chili to illustrate interconnectedness and self-understanding.

The podcast discusses the concept of a 'circle of skills' and its relation to learning paragliding and practicing mindfulness. It emphasizes the importance of gradually expanding one's skill set and taking baby steps in order to grow. The host also explores the parallels between injury rehabilitation and Buddhist teachings on suffering. Overall, the podcast highlights the power of incremental growth, understanding one's mind, and cultivating mindfulness in daily life.

In this episode, I will talk about "The First Meditation" a story about an experience that Siddhartha (the Buddha) had when he was 9 years old. I believe this experience shaped his understanding of the importance of experiential vs intellectual understanding and I believe there are some good lessons to be learned by us as we hear this story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The podcast discusses the concept of taking the long view in Buddhism and gaining a higher perspective. It emphasizes considering the needs of others and the negative impact of the 'we are right' mentality. The parable of the horse is explored, highlighting the interdependent nature of events. The importance of finding balance in meditation and life is discussed using the analogy of a musician seeking instruction from the Buddha. The concept of personal tuning is explored, focusing on self-reflection, contentment, and avoiding comparison to others for peace and fulfillment.

Zen Master Seung Sahn said "I do not teach Buddhism. I only teach don't know." The beauty of not knowing arises when we understand that reality is unknowable as a complete picture. First, because it's always changing, and second, we are limited in our perspective in terms of space and time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Explore the concept of a liberated state of mind and the Buddhist teachings of emptiness, signlessness, and aimlessness. Reflect on personal losses and the meaning of freedom in Buddhist practice. Delve into the three doors of liberation in Buddhism: emptiness, signlessness, and aimlessness. Explore the impermanence of memories and the absence of a separate self. Embrace aimlessness and find joy in every experience by redirecting ambition and embracing the present moment.